site.btaNearly 500 Migrants, 19 Drug Traffickers Detained in Massive Operation Against Illegal Migration across Turkiye

Turkish security forces launched a large-scale operation against illegal migration, covering all 81 districts of the country. During the operation, 478 illegal migrants and 19 individuals suspected of organizing illegal human trafficking were detained, according to Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya, as reported by Turkish television TRT Haber.

Yerlikaya noted that, thanks to the country's strategic approach to fighting illegal migration, Turkey has ceased to be a destination or transit route for illegal migration. Yerlikaya stressed that the fight against organizers of illegal human trafficking across borders will continue relentlessly as it has until now.

The Presidency of Migration Management carried out the operation in cooperation with the gendarmerie's departments for combating migrant smuggling and human trafficking, the General Directorate of Security, the Border Gendarmerie, and the Coast Guard Command. A total of 27,697 police officers were deployed in 8,702 teams to 5,532 checkpoints.

A total of 14,261 locations were inspected, including 7,482 public places and 422 terminals and border checkpoints. Personal documents of 372,409 individuals were checked in various districts throughout the country. A total of 478 illegal migrants were detained and handed over to the Presidency of Migration Management for extradition. Nineteen individuals suspected of organizing illegal human trafficking were arrested and turned over to judicial authorities.